Grouchy Greg

Nelly Awarding ‘P.I.M.P’s’ With Scholarships

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 9, 2004

Nelly’s energy drink Pimp Juice has created the P.I.M.P Scholars Program, which will provide financial assistance to eligible college students. According to the company, P.I.M.P is an acronym for Positive Intellectual Motivated Person. The scholarship, which is competitive, will award two applicants, one male and one female, with a $5,000 award. The P.I.M.P Scholarship is not limited to academics. Applicants stand a better chance of winning the scholarship if they are involved in leadership roles in extracurricular activities of all genres. The top twenty-five applicants will be contacted and asked for an official college transcript and a letter of recommendation from a leader in their respective communities. Deadline for submission is December 29, 2004 and the Scholarships will be awarded in January of 2005. For more information visit letitloose.com. In related news, Nelly’s latest single from his forthcoming albums Sweat and Suit is "’Tilt ‘Cha Head Back." The song borrows a sample from Curtis Mayfield’s classic song "Superfly" and features Christina Aguilera. The albums also include collaborations with Mobb Deep, Mase and country singer Tim McGraw who contributes to the song "Over and Over."

Former Arsonists’ Member Q-Unique Preparing Solo Album

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 9, 2004

Q-Unique, former frontman for The Arsonists is preparing to release his solo debut album, Vengeance Is Mine. The album is labeled as more aggressive than his past works and features performances from Ill Bill, Necro and Swell 79. Q-Unique, Necro, Ju Ju of the Beatnuts and Context produced the album. Q has been on tour all summer, sharing the stage with Atmosphere, Non-Phixon, Stretch Armstrong on the popular Warped Tour. The first single from the album is “The Set Up” and also features an accompanying video, which can be viewed at www.q-unique.com. Vengeance Is Mine hits stores October 10, 2004 on Uncle Howie Records/ Caroline Records. Fans can catch Q-Unique at one of the following dates: TUE – 8/10 – Hershey, PA Hersheypark Pavilion THU – 8/12 – Quebec City, PQ Colisee Pepsi Parking Lot FRI – 8/13 – Montreal, QB Parc Jean Drapeau SAT – 8/14 – Toronto, ON TBA SUN – 8/15 – Detroit, MI Pontiac Silverdome MON – 8/16 – Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center Lot TUE – 8/17 – Columbus, OH Germain Amphitheatre WED – 8/18 – Buffalo, NY Darien Lakes PAC

AHH Stray News: Roc-A-Fella, Beasties, D12, Beef

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 8, 2004

In an interview with the August 16 issue of Newsweek, Def Jam CEO L.A. Reid confirmed that Def Jam was close to buying out the partners of Roc-A-Fella Records and negotiating deals to keep them within the Def Jam system. Reid also said he will sign more diverse acts to the label. The Beastie Boys latest album To the 5 Boroughs is almost at platinum status, with 792,000 copies sold. The album shipped over 1 million units. The group has sold a total of 22 million records throughout their career. In related record sales news, Juvenile’s latest Juve the Great, has been certified platinum powered by the strength of the massive hit “Slow Motion” featured the late Soulja Slim. D12 is working on two movies, one a horror flick named “Devil’s Night” and another called “Runyon Cash,” named after a street members of the group grew up on. The movie will be executive produce by their managers, Jeremy Geffen and Max Gousse. Gousse was also executive producer of the movie “You Got Served.” Quincy “QD3” Jones will release “Beef II,” the follow up to the platinum selling “Beef” DVD. The DVD reveals details behind some of the biggest feuds in the Hip-Hop industry. DMX, K-Solo, 50 Cent, Fredro Starr, Stick Fingaz, Afeni Shakur, Angie Martinez, Canibus, Nelly and KRS-One are among the artists featured. “Beef II” hits stores August 31.

Tha Carter

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicAugust 8, 2004

Artist: Lil’ WayneTitle: Tha CarterRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: DJ L.K. (Low-Key) “The best rapper alive, since the best rapper retired”, that is what Lil Wayne proclaims on his fourth studio album, Tha Carter. While Weezy may not live up to such a bold claim, he certainly provides his best outing yet with his latest offering. Tha Carter‘s main strength is in its production as mister consistency, Mannie Fresh, laces the album with his vintage Southern funk. The album’s lead single, “Bring It Back”, finds Weezy riding Fresh’s thumping bassline perfectly. And while lyrically, Wayne stumbles along with lines like, “You freeze up like popsicles, pop up on bicycles, pop y’all like spot pimples”, Weezy’s syrupy flow and precise wordplay are enough to get him by. On the catchy bounce sounds of “Go DJ”, Fresh once again puts on his super hero cape, and provides Wayne with a sure shot hit. The summer time sounds of “This Is The Carter” is another hit in the making, as is “On My Own”. But for every bouncy Southern anthem, Weezy also offers some nice change of pace tracks as well. “BM J.R.” is about as dark as you will ever see Wayne get, as he rips into the track with his best lyrical effort on the album. “On the capitol only key to survive is kill, if the elements don’t murder you the riders will. For real, and n##### know I go hard to the fullest. get involved and I got ’em playing dodge ball wit bullets”. However, on the albums true gem, “I Miss My Dawgs”, Weezy proves he can do much more than duplicate the usual New Orleans street tales. The intimate song finds him addressing his former Hot Boyz, as he strolls down memory lane reminiscing about the good times spent with Juvenile, B.G. & Turk. While Tha Carter can be considered Lil Wayne’s best album to date, it does suffer from some minimal letdowns. The album’s twenty-one tracks could have easily been slimmed down to a modest number, as there are a couple of filler tracks. The pairing of father and son on “We Don’t”, “Get Down” and “Only Way” are all sub par efforts from Baby and Wayne that fail to be as captivating as the album’s other songs. Nevertheless, Tha Carter should cement Lil Wayne’s place as one of the South’s premier emcees. And even though Weezy’s visions of grandeur are a bit premature, you cannot blame him for thinking big.

Rick James Part 3: The Music Industry

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: AlternativesAugust 7, 2004

When AllHipHop.com announced this 5 part series, we like everyone else, could never have forseen this shocking blow to the music industry, especially black music. Rick James had died. Like Ray Charles, Rick James was a titan that influenced several genres of music. The first group he was in was known as the Mynah Birds, which featured Neil Young and Goldie McJohn (Steppenwolf..think ‘Born to be Wild’). He pioneered what was labeled as punk funk. Don’t let his statements about Hip-Hop fool you. Rick was down with Hip-Hop back then. He released a chart topping single on Reprise Records named “Loosey’s Rap,” a number 1 record that featured Roxanne Shante. Read this interview carefully. Rick James is telling all of us something. AllHipHop.com: I’m unhappy with a lot of Hip-Hop music; I dont even listen to tthe radio anymore. The corporations have taken over Rick: Universal would have bought other corporations, but black rappers and dope money have a whole other move in the industry. They have taken young black rappers through dope money and have made them successful. I wont have my child walking around talking about, N***er this , N***er that. AllHipHop.com: All rappers arent like that Rick: Dont turn a blind eye, black music has always taken people to a spiritual and elevated plane. Ever since Miles Davis, Motown, Earth Wind and Fire. AllHipHop.com: None of the positive Rap gets played on the radio anymore Rick: Music has now taken another toll, man. Quincy was saying that music is sad. There will never be another music that will come that will change the consciousness of people. Every decade a musician comes that saves the world, and thats not happening now and its been over 20 years. I am a musician and I am excited about hearing a group that makes me feel like I want to live again. But when I go to a club and hear a rapper singing about, N***er N***er N***er, and wearing their pants down pass their a###### it makes me sick to my stomach. AllHipHop.com: Do you think the artists will eventually grow out of that and change? Rick: Hell no, they are not going to grow out of it. because they are going to buy cars, and end up with their cars and out of the business. Rap changes so quickly. I saw a kid on TV, Lil Jon, but he has got a mouth full of diamonds. I like Kanye cause he is simple, I worked with him because the kid is simple and I believe he has been touched. He released an album, puts God stuff in it, and it goes number one. AllHipHop.com: I believe the corporate structure isnt set up for positive influence anymore. Rick: It has never been set up for that. Everybody out there is a duplicate. There is an artist out there with a baldhead who sounds like Stevie Wonder. This is a very sad state of affairs. AllHipHop.com: Do you think there is originality anymore? Rick: Yes, Outkast is making big money I think. Everybody else has baseball hats, and sings the same. Its incredible. AllHipHop.com: Who do you like? Rick: There are so many people that I like, I am talking now about the esoteric part. I think Eminem is brilliant, I like Dr. Dre; I like Scarface, Tupac, Biggie Smalls. But when I heard the Fugees album, I threw it out the window. AllHipHop.com: Your daughter is rapping now Rick: My daughter is rapping about s**t that is positive. You dont need no man to take care of you, take care of yourself, b***h.she is running her s**t. AllHipHop.com: How are you going to help her? Rick: By supporting her and keeping her away from all the snakes. I think she is blessed. She asked to use my studio, I said for what? She said she just wanted to mess around, I said well go ahead, I pass my studio and heard it banging. Didnt even know it was my own daughter. She has a song called, Dad that speaks out my whole life. AllHipHop.com: Do u think she will be able to establish an identity apart from you? Rick: My daughter never did any drugs, she doesnt do any drugs, and she is the total opposite to what I am about. AllHipHop.com: You know they say that the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. Rick: Who the f**k said that? That is some one of those ridiculous things..s**t is thicker than bloodyou can take all those stupid things and stick them up your ass! Life is about the love of God.

Rick James Dead At 56

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 6, 2004

R&B legend Rick James died today, apparently of natural causes according to sources. James, 56, died at 9:45 am at a residence near Universal City in California. "He died apparently of natural causes. We learned of his death after responding to a radio call," said police officer Esther Reyes said. AllHipHop.com was in the middle of a 5 part series that will continue in honor of the R&B legend.

Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s Garden Seekers Signs With Penalty/Ryko

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 6, 2004

A Tribe Called Quest member Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s Garden Seekers Productions has inked a deal with Penalty Recordings/Ryko Distribution. Under the new union, Garden Seekers will release Shaheedullah & Stereotypes, a sample free album born out of Muhammad’s involvement with like minded musicians. “Arthur Mann [Ryko founder] and Neil Levine [Penalty founder] are respected icons within the music business,” Ali said. “I am inspired by what they have achieved and am eager to learn from their experiences.” Muhammad rose to fame with A Tribe Called Quest. The group disbanded in 1998 and Muhammad continued his career in music as a member of Lucy Pearl, which also featured Raphael Saddiq and the sexy Dawn Robinson of R&B group En Vogue. Muhammad started Garden Seeker in 1999. “My Garden Seeker Productions family and I are ecstatic about the new partnership. We plan to turn the heat up with Penalty by our side. Lookout…‘Elevated Orange’ baby.” Artists on Garden Seeker Productions include Sy Smith, Stokely, Kay, Chip-Fu and Muhammad himself. Shaheedullah & Stereotypes is due in stores this October.

Rick James: Fire And Desire Pt. 2

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: AlternativesAugust 6, 2004

AllHipHop.com: You guys made timeless music, we always say that the type of music Hip-Hop is, when we are older we wont really be able to enjoy it Rick: Hip-Hop is a replica or a refurbished version of old school. When you cant make a hit record unless you do a Rick James album what does that tell you? On one hand I love it, but on the other hand it is taking music out of schools and kids dont know how to play instruments. They resort to the best thing they know how, like black people surviving, taking away an art form. Can I really love that? I am pro-black, so for me to see these kids grow up in the projects and they cant play nothing, but they can take a Rick James record and turn that around the turntable as Rap: sitting, drinking Crystal. I mean its a beautiful thing just as well. AllHipHop.com: What do you think about kids not playing instruments, I am a former musician myself I used to take interest in guitar and drums Rick: I think it is a very sad thing, I think its a plot by the government, number 1 to take music out of schools. I think it is the worst thing that the government has done to the educational program. When I was growing up, you could play guitar, drums, saxophone, learn music theory, harmony all that s**t. Now, you cant even get an instrument in high school and kids have nothing to r resort too, and thats a very sad thing. AllHipHop.com: Can you speak on that project that you, Kanye West and Bumpy Johnson are doing? What did you guys do together? Rick: Well thats a very strange thing, how that happened. My son called me up once when I talked to him, and said to me that his favorite rapper was Kanye West, and I didnt know who the hell Kanye West was. He had introduced me to Andre from Outkast in Atlanta and I didnt know who the hell he was either. I was wearing an Outkast shirt that I had bought, so I went over to him and we talked, I told him I loved all his records, but I didnt know one record. This Kanye West thing my son turned me on to it too and my ex-wife, she said Rick you have to get this album by this kid, Kanye West, so I said why is it so special? Because he doesnt look like a rapper with gold teeth, baseball hats on the side, hes not talking about b***hes and hoes, and he isnt shooting people. He actually has some religious connotation to his music, which really attracted me. I went and bought the album and I liked it, thought this boy had some talent, next thing I am getting a call to do a Kanye West bit. So you know God works in mysterious ways. AllHipHop.com: So did you play instruments or just sing? Rick: What I did is, I laid about 16 tracks of vocals, just to help with the melody. He was a very sweet kid, very humble. It was really a joy; it is always a joy watching these young kids who learned from us do what they do now. Because a lot of stuff these kids are doing, I cant do. I hear some tracks going on, and say what was he on? I think they need to get together more often. One of the reasons why Andre and Outkast is so great is because they grew up from what he told me, on the old school. I mean he knows about the Beatles; he knows about Rick James, Jimi Hendrix; he has done his homework. Their album is one of the best rap albums I have ever heard. AllHipHop.com: Did you work with Andre? Rick: We are trying to match our schedules, its just that he is so busy now. What he is going through right now, I went through. He is so busy I dont even like bugging him, and we keep missing each other on the phone. He wants to work with me really bad and I want to work with him also. But if we never work together its okay, I just want him to enjoy his fame. Who knows if next year anybody will buy Outkast; and if he strays to far away from his black base, he is really going to lose it. It going to be like a Prince thing, thats what f**ked Prince up; he was getting too white. There is a middle ground there, cause I think me, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, The Commodores got that middle ground, unlike Lenny Kravitz. He wants to do a black thing but he is successful with his white thing, but he doesnt feel comfortable because its a white thing and there are no black people in the crowd. If you have 20,000 white people out there paying 100.00 a ticket, and all are girls, be happy! People come over to my house, musicians, and Lenny wont touch an instrument, because he feels inferior. Think about it, its like Hootie & the Blowfish trying to come up on stage and jam with me. AllHipHop.com: You talking about a double album, talk to me a little bit about that. Rick: Its going to have about 26/27 songs and it is going to be very interesting, it is going to be a lot of things that I always wanted to do. AllHipHop.com: What kind of label situation are you working out? Rick: I am doing my own label, independent. I want to be just like Puffy. I want to make $700 million. If I could have done it 20 years ago, I would have done it. AllHipHop.com: I spoke to Stephanie Mills, and she kind of echoed the same thing about the entrepreneurship of rappers and shes doing her own independent […]

Mase: Lord Willin

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesAugust 6, 2004

Hip-Hop’s prodigal son has returned. Mase exited the rap game five years ago after experiencing tremendous multi-platinum success with his album, Harlem World. He was Bad Boy Records’ marquee artist during the windfall after the death of Biggie Smalls. Before his sophomore CD, Double Up, emerged a couple of years later, Mase had hung up his microphone in exchange for a Bible. In his time away from entertainment, he became an ordained preacher, established a ministry in Atlanta (S.A.N.E. Ministries), wrote his memoirs titled Revelations, and, most importantly, got his life in tune with his soul. With his personal planets lined up, Mase returns with a mission, a higher cause and a new album: Welcome Back. AllHipHop.com: What made you come back to Hip-Hop after five years? Mase: {Click here to see Mase explain} I never actually left the ministry, the reason for me coming back to Hip-Hop is like diamonds; they shine better on a black t-shirt. If I have a light it is best that I shine it where the light is needed, and just be a light among lights and come where the light is needed. So my purpose for being in Hip-Hop is no. 1 is to bring that light and clarity to a lot of people around the world and to make good music and to let people know that there is another way to do it. Not to force people into believing what I believe, but to give them another option it is always good to have another option. AllHipHop.com: So you have no profanity – is the whole album clean? Mase: Well actually, that isn’t actually anything new, ’cause whenever people thought of Mase they thought of no profanity, so that’s not a big deal. I think a lot of people are really over-exaggerating me, because they don’t understand me and they are making a lot of assumptions. In a world where people don’t like to be judged it seems as though they are doing a lot of judging themselves. AllHipHop.com: So was this a strategic move or did you start writing lyrics? Mase: Actually I don’t do well when I write on paper. I am better when I listen to a beat and just flow, so I really didn’t have to do like writing and those type of things. I already knew what I wanted to get across in Hip-Hop. I knew I didn’t want to preach to people, I knew that I didn’t want to force my faith on them. What I wanted to do is give them [credible] sound and an album full of singles, and wanted to give radio a hard time picking the single. So I just did a whole album of singles, you could pick anything off of it and make it a single. I look forward to having 4 to 5 videos and 4 to 5 singles and it will run me right into my next album. AllHipHop.com: Speaking on the album what can people expect in appearance? Will Loon be on there? Mase: Well actually, this album is a Mase album, like when you buy a Nas album you wanna hear Nas, when you buy Jay- Z you wanna hear Jay- Z. I think the artists have been robbing listeners, because you are paying for one person but you get eight other people. That is called a compilation album, and what we have become accustomed to are compilation albums it is not even real albums, because 200,000 of the fans come from Eminem being on it, and another 300 come from Sean Paul on it, 150 come from Usher on the chorus, and it is really not you the people are buying, they really are buying it for all those other people. Then why not just buy a mixed tape? AllHipHop.com: People have talked badly about your return. Did you catch any criticism from people that you tricked them into thinking you were leaving and not coming back? Mase: People that have a spiritual side understand what I am doing, those who doesn’t probably think I am a hypocrite. But you know, they thought Jesus was a hypocrite and they called him a devil, and I don’t expect people to love me. That is why it makes it easier to do what I do. I expect to come into this and expect friction, but I know at the end there will be a beautiful thing. People will forever respect me for the stand that I took, like for the stand I am taking right now, somebody’s daughter is going to come home for the stand point I am taking, somebody’s son is going to get there act together and say ‘Wo,w this is what people have been praying for their whole life, and it just so happened I was the one they were praying for’. AllHipHop.com: Was it true you had a religious clause that would allow you to get out of your contract with Bad Boy? Mase: People come up with the silliest things. Actually I didn’t get out of my contract. Puff had the ability and the option to sue me but he didn’t. When I left music he could have said, “You took this money and didn’t complete the agreement and breeched the contract, I’m taking you to court” but he didn’t do that because he knew that what I was doing was for a greater cause than just music. My life right now is so much bigger then music, like music is not the smallest thing to me, but not in the big picture in my life. AllHipHop.com: What is in the big picture? Mase: The big picture in my life is my faith and the things I live for, like helping people. Music is a tool in which I can do such – not for one second will I compromise what I believe in to be here. The moment I see that they are not allowing me to express what […]

Lil’ Flip: Down & Dirty

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: FeaturesAugust 6, 2004

Flip is coping with success the best way he can. After a decade’s worth of grinding, he moved to major status and has dealt with the roller coaster called fame. With a local following threaded in street credibility, there was beef and rap tofu knocking on his front door. In a recent interview with AllHipHop.com, Flip updates us with his work schedule. He continues to make tracks upon tracks for the albums and the mixtapes. Flip expands his talents in new realms such as beverages and directing, and you’ll also get a sneak peak at the forthcoming album with female act Clover G. If that wasn’t enough, Lil’ Flip expounds on the T.I. debate, and he unabashedly credits Scarface as the “King of the South,” you know where this is going… AllHipHop.com: We’ve talked before, but a lot’s changing. So take me through a recent day in the life of Lil Flip. Lil’ Flip: A typical day is getting up and going to the studio to try and knock out at least eight tracks. AllHipHop.com: Per day? Lil’ Flip: Yeah, I do mix tape stuff too; like I’ll do eight real tracks, and then I’ll do like three little mix tape freestyles or whatever just to keep some new stuff out. After that go eat, go check out my family and see what’s going on. Go meet with my movie man and get my movies and I’m back at the crib. AllHipHop.com: Movie Man? Lil’ Flip: You know the movie man, so I can go get the movies and go watch em at home. AllHipHop.com: So why do you still worry about doing so many mix tapes? Lil’ Flip: Because I feel like that’s what I owe to the fans. I been doing mix tapes since high school, since I was 18. I have over 35 mix tapes out that average between 30 and 50 thousand units each, I had one that did 80 thousand. AllHipHop.com: Right now your just busy promoting the album? Lil’ Flip: Yeah, I’m promoting the new album which is already platinum at 1.4 million units, and I’m doing a group album with Clover G, and I’m almost done working on my next album; I only have about 5 more tracks and I’m done. AllHipHop.com: Who’s on the new album? Lil’ Flip: So far, I got Mario Winans, Ghostface, Nelly and Twista. AllHipHop.com: What do you think separates you from the rest of the fiends coming out of the South right now? Lil’ Flip: For one, to last in this game you gotta stay humble. Every time I do an album I get the budget to go get tracks from the high, A-class producers, but I always go find new people. Every album I go find new hungry producers like these new cats Play & Skillz, they produced the majority of my new album; and the new single “Sunshine” with my girl Leah, she’s a new artist so I just believe in helping people out and giving em a chance. AllHipHop.com: Speaking of Sunshine who’s yours? Lil’ Flip: My music. AllHipHop.com: Why? Does your work get in the way of you finding her? Lil’ Flip: You gotta find the right person. Because you got people not in the industry that don’t understand and can’t deal with the fact that your always gone, and with people in the industry it’s kinda hard to decide if you want to deal with someone in the industry also. AllHipHop.com: So what’s the right woman for Flip? Lil’ Flip: I need somebody to understand that you get what you put in, and if I sit back and be comfortable with what I got instead of working doing the stuff that got me where I’m at right now, I’m gonna fall off so one she gotta understand I gotta work. I gotta put in extra work now so I’m not trying to rap till I’m 50. AllHipHop.com: Though I personally hate beef, I would be remiss in my obligation to the Ill Community if I didn’t ask you your side of the T.I. beef… Lil’ Flip: Basically the dude is just jealous because we did a photo shoot for the Source cover and we had to do it two times because they didn’t like the first pictures. He was in my trailer telling me how he wanted to get on the, “Game Over” remix and I told him no because I was already done, I had already got a remix with Young Buck and Bomb Beats and that was that. So they called us back the next week to tell us they didn’t like the pictures. But by this time, he was already locked up so when we did the pictures over, and it was me Cassidy, J-Kwon and the Young Gunz. And I guess when he got out and saw the cover he got jealous and tried to diss me at a show in Atlanta. I had a show the next day with G-Unit, and I got him back way worse than what he tried to pull. He tried to show a picture of my first album with the Leprechaun, my first independent album, and that’s the album that sold 200,000. That’s the album I was selling for 10 dollars a disc so I had two million before I even got to Columbia, I don’t even think he knows what two million looks like. So basically, it’s just a jealousy thing and he’s running around saying he’s the “King of the South”, when everybody knows Scarface is the “King of the South” but when you only have a gold album you shouldn’t get the big head, he’s even beefin’ with Ludacris, and his first album only did like 150,000. AllHipHop.com: So how do you handle all the jealousy, has it affected any of your friends in your inner-circle? Lil’ Flip: Naw, because I keep my family around. My dad told me early on, “Everybody ain’t gonna like you so you can’t […]

718

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicAugust 6, 2004

Artist: Theodore UnitTitle: 718Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jayson Rodriguez Ghostface is his own man, theres no question about it. The Staten Island emcee is as much an enigma as say Ricky Williams, the recently retired RB who chose pot over the pigskin. The two Miami residents, however, share more in common than just their area code or their mysterious ways. At their best they can carry a team. On 718, Ghosts side project with Theodore Unit, the Shaolin rhyme slayer does just that by appearing on 10 of the albums 16 tracks. The opening salvo, Guerilla Hood, finds Ghostface spitting amusing non sequiturs like: Don Mattingly, Don Baylor, Don King of Don anything. Who Are We?, with its big-band grandiose courtesy of producer Dirty Dean flipping the tip of the Scooby Doo theme, is an adrenaline-charged anthem. Fittingly, oversized rapper Bonecrusher appears on the cut. Method Man momentarily spells Tony Starks as he shines on The Drummer with slick boasts such as, Ya n*ggas shoot ya guns like Shaq shoots a free throw. And true to the albums title, (an NYC area code), TU represents for their hometown. Ghostface is the one to Set It Off on 88 Freestyle, which features a classic Big Daddy Kane track as the backdrop. Although the seven-man set displays promise during the first half of the album, Theodore Unit tires during second half. For starters, the Ironman sits out several tracks on the back end of 718. Trife Da God provides punch, but the rest of the crew sounds lost without their star. Shawn Wigs, a melanin-depraved version of Ghost, flourishes earlier on the album but is overwhelmed on his solo, Daily Routine. And Solomon Childs all but fumbles on all three of his solo attempts. While Ghostface may charismatically clash with his collaborators on 718, thats part of the appeal. For the most part he and the TU membersmost noticeably Trifework well with each other. Its only when Starks heads to the bench that the team struggles. Lets just hope for our sake, as well as Theodore Units, that Ghost doesnt decide hed rather get on with his life, ala Ricky Williams, and retire early.

Russian Skinheads Sentenced For Attacks After P.E. Concert

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 5, 2004

A group of skinheads in Russia were handed stiff jail sentences yesterday, after they attacked a group of people and killed a police officer following a Public Enemy concert. The Moscow City Court sentenced six defendants anywhere from four to 18 years in prison. One was banished to a mental institution. A brawl broke out in a Moscow subway last summer when the men attacked a group of people returning home from the Public Enemy concert that took place in DK Gorbunova. Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported that the men were not pleased with Public Enemy’s ‘black nationalist attitude” and waited for fans of the rap group after the concert shouting "Russia is for Russian’s!" When two officers intervened to stop the ensuing fight, one of the officers was struck on the head with a broken bottle and died a short time later. A separate group of men were also arrested at another subway station causing havoc, breaking glass and attacking people passing by.

The Slickness

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicAugust 5, 2004

Artist: Prince PoTitle: The SlicknessRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: A.P. Ghetto King General If you have ever asked What happened to the other guy from Organized Konfusion?, you can finally stop wondering. Prince Po is finally staking his claim with his long due solo project The Slickness. Just as Prince Po has moved on from his past, I too will deal with what he is doing now because this album needs your full attention. If lyrics are what youre looking for, then this is what you need. Po does what he has to and more to prove he can stand on his own as a solo emcee. On Too Much he sets it off by proclaiming himself the Worlds biggest mic soldier with little exposure. He kills this track from start to finish, letting emcees and listeners know that hes serious with the mic. This album moves well from track to track without becoming redundant and boring. Po uses a good mix of topics to keep the listeners attention and doesnt have to rely on the production to do this. Now, dont let that last comment make you think less of the albums production. Producers Madlib, J-Zone, Danger Mouse, and others bring bangers that will keep the underground happy. Danger Mouse takes you on ride with the smooth Love Thang featuring Carla. The title track is a Madlib creation highlighted by a mix of rough and smooth sounds with kung-fu movie fight scene samples. If this album has a downside, it would have to be the guest appearances. Raekwon disappoints on the weak attempt at a club joint, The Bump Bump. Meet Me at the Bar is a collaboration with J-Ro of the Liks but it will only have you wondering where Tash was while they were in the studio. The indie affiliated guest fair better than their higher profile counterparts. Jemini and Cairo come through on Fall Back, as does MF Doom on Social Distortion. Every album has its place. The Slickness is good enough to be an underground banger for 2004. With the right push it could push the crust of the mainstream surface, however it lacks the radio single to break through. For underground heads, this should be in your collection because Prince Po is definitely too much for the mainstream, commercial scene.

Nore Talks About ‘Def Jam Fight For NY’

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 5, 2004

With the inking drying on his new deal with Roc-A-Fella Records and a new album on the way, Noreaga is one of the 40 Hip-Hop stars to be featured on Def Jam’s upcoming video game, “Fight for NY.” “This game is making Hip-Hop bigger,” Nore told AllHipHop.com. “Hip-Hop and video games go together.” Fight for NY was inspired by various gang movies from the 1980’s and the actual streets of New York, right up the Queens native’s alley. “I like the dirty fight,” Noreaga continued. “If you’re not playing a video game you listen to Hip-Hop, or while you’re playing the video game you listen to hip pop. So why not video games that already got Hip-Hop on it? You can save electricity.” “The real inspiration came from exploring the streets of New York in person, filming and taking photographs,” art director Daryl Anselmo said. “The celebrity artists had a lot of crazy ideas too, so we’re always collaborating and making sure that they each get their important signature looks and moves in the game.” Gamers can pick their favorite artists and then choose from five different fighting styles: wrestling, martial arts, street fighting, kickboxing and submission fighting. In order to win control of the streets, which is the ultimate goal of the game, a player must win more than 90 fights in 20-plus venues. Users can even build their own fighter and adorn him with tattoos, gear and even custom ice courtesy of Jacob the Jeweler. Def Jam Fight for NY hits stores on September 20, 2004 and features Ice-T, Fat Joe, Lil Kim, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, Flavor Flav and a host of others.

Rick James: Fire And Desire

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: AlternativesAugust 4, 2004

Everybody has a reason to love Rick James. Whether its his celebrated musical legacy or his outspoken nature. Hell, if you are media, his ability to generate headlines for living a defiant rock star lifestyle is reason enough to praise him. Ricks life is one massive canvas thats still being painted. In his past, hes blessed us with hits like Super Freak (Part 1), which does not begin to quantify his legacy. He also served two years in prison after being convicted of assaulting and kidnapping a woman. Similarly, his time behind bars does not mark the totality of his legacy. Recently, Rick has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from ASCAP and spoofed by comic Dave Chappelle, a different sort of tribute. AllHipHop.com talked and talked and talked and talked with Rick. The interview will be presented in an ongoing series, because frankly, its one of the most interesting dialogues to be featured on this site. Remember: HE’S RICK JAMES, B***H!!!! AllHipHop.com: I would like to congratulate you, because it seems as though you are making a comeback and you are all over the place now. Rick James: Yeah, I am definitely resurfacing in the world of entertainment. Back into the bump and grind. I am very happy about that, it feels good. I am learning a lot and I have matured a lot. I have a son, I have a family and I am taking life a lot more serious now. AllHipHop.com: What are your plans? I know you have the movie coming out Rick James: Well I have the movie were working on thats coming out and the book Memoirs of a Super Freak which is an autobiographical book. It was a great thing for me to do the writing, and that happened when I was locked down so it was very introspective, as far as my life is concerned. It gave me insight on musicians, a business aspect, as well knowledge on drug addiction and all that stuff. AllHipHop.com: So you wrote it while you were incarcerated? Rick: Yes I did, I wrote it while I was in prison, got a chance to look introspectively at myself and it was like therapy. AllHipHop.com: I want to speak a little bit about Dave Chappelle, because he has infamously parodied you Rick: He is making a lot of money off of me, that son-of-a-b***h AllHipHipHop.com: He just resigned with Comedy Central for quite a bit of money [reports say $50,000,000] Rick: I know. AllHipHop.com: What did you think of the skit, I mean obviously you were part of it but Rick: I laughed, I think it was funny, it was satire, and it was fun. You know people are too serious about things nowadays. A lot of people were expecting me to get offended, f**k no! Dave is a good friend of mine. So is Charlie Murphy, and I actually lived that life and to look at myself now, and to look back on my life and see how insane I was, is pretty funny to me. I used to do things like Im Rick James b***h! and kinds of stuff. AllHipHop.com: Oh you really used to say that? Rick: Of course I used to. Show my your t*ts b***h and all that stuff, it was my world and I was the king of it. So if you lived in it, and you didnt do what I said, then get the f**k out! When I look back on it, the insanity of it all; the drugs- when I made the statement about Cocaine is one hell of a drug- cocaine – that was the foundation of our party atmosphere, it was about that. AllHipHop.com: What about the whole drug scene, some rappers are experiencing those kinds of problems Rick: One thing about rappers that I have noticed is that most of them smoke blunts, and thats their big thing. But they smoke a blunt and they cant remember their rap. So that could probably be worse than cocaine. You dont really see a lot of rappers using cocaine; it is kind of a phased-out drug for them. Maybe because they saw their mother and fathers go under or there is some kind of psychological ramifications that theyre dealing with, but not lot of rappers use cocaine. AllHipHop.com: Did you ever do crack or anything like that? Rick: Crack is for poor people. AllHipHop.com: There are some rumors that DMX is having problems with crack. Rick: Well, I hope that DMX is all right and I hope that it is just rumors. Basically, cocaine is cocaine, and a drug is a drug. But people dont realize that the biggest drug in the world is alcohol, thats worst than cocaine. This drug that eats up 5-6,000-brain cells every time you take a drink, that do not replenish themselves. There is a lot of money in that too. And tobacco, now those are serious drugs. AllHipHop.com: Yes, but you are talking business now. Rick: Yes, but cocaine is business toobut if you want to talk about a serious drug, alcohol that is the number one drug. AllHipHop.com: Right, I feel you on that. Business rules America. Rick: The THC content in marijuana eats away your endorphins; it trains your endorphins to act totally different. So that is like not a good thing, alcohol kills thousands of brain cells in a single drink, I mean we have billions, but still. Cigarettes destroy your lungs. So if you think about it, you walking down the road and the guy on the bus is smoking a pack of cigarettes, then what can you really do that is healthy? I mean everybody is an addict for something, few of us will admit it. I am not in denial about my addiction. I live it everyday. AllHipHop.com: As corny as this sounds, I am addicted to candy, personally. I drink juice to get my sugar now. Rick: Candy is a horrible thing. Because of the […]

Mobb Deep Expands Sound, Prodigy Revitalized

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 4, 2004

When the Queensbridge duo of Havoc and Prodigy briefly traded in murderous, monotonous hooks for a soulful chorus by Atlanta quartet 112 on “Hey Luv (Anything),” Mobb Deep loyalists weren’t exactly elated. That’s because Mobb fans had endeared themselves to the trademark hardcore sound from the New York natives. But Prodigy explained to AllHipHop.com, the track, from 1999’s Infamy, as well as upcoming collaborations with Nelly (on the St. Lunatic’s album), Nate Dogg and Lil Jon are meant to attract new fans, not alienate their own base. “We don’t want everything to be like, Uh, these n***as is just stuck on themselves,” Prodigy said. “If you trying to sell records, you got to think about, All right, What do other people like, too? So that’s why we like, Aight, Let’s grab that, let’s grab some of this, let’s grab some other flavors, too, you know what I’m saying?” Since P and Hav parted ways with Columbia Records after the release of Infamy, they’ve signed a 50/50 joint venture with Jive Records, which will release their new album Amerikaz Nightmare. As a part of the new deal Mobb Deep will split the majority of the profits between Jive and their own Infamous Records. But with the added responsibility of controlling their own destiny, financially at least, Prodigy insists he and his partner-in-rhyme will stick to what they do best.“We on some hardheaded s**t,” he enthusiastically said of the upcoming release. “We don’t give a f*ck about nuttin’ else. Ninety-nine percent of the album is [produced by] Havoc.” Although the duo released Free Agents: The Murda Mixtape last year, Prodigy adamantly explained that Infamy shoul be considered Mobb Deep’s last album. “We put Free Agents out to let people know that we was free agents,” he clarified. “It’s just a mixtape for the street, that wasn’t an album at all. So the last album we put out was Infamy.” Some critics contend P reached his highpoint with his solo, H.N.I.C. and Hav arguably stepped up lyrically on Infamy. P may not agree fully to the opinions, but he said his team is superior to others and contended he felt revitalized by his new recording contract. “N*ggas cannot f**k with us,” he stated, calling Mobb’s new single “Real Gangstaz,” featuring Lil Jon, “fire.” “I definitely got new found energy coming with this new deal that we got and just with everything new for us right now. “Hell yeah,” Prodigy continued. “You could feel it and you could hear it in our music.” Amerikaz Nightmare is due is stores August 10th. The album will feature guest appearances by Jadakiss and longtime Mobb Deep affiliates Littles and Noyd, as well as production by Red Spyda and Kanye West. In the meantime, fans can check for Prodigy and Havoc’s latest mixtape, West Coast Mixtape featuring Big Mike.

(VV:2) Venomous Villain

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicAugust 4, 2004

Artist: Viktor VaughnTitle: (VV:2) Venomous VillainRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Paine MF DOOM is on the verge of either sealing his crown as underground king, or over-saturating the market worse than the Roc-A-Fella franchise. Never short on creativity, DOOM closed 2003 with his Madlib collaboration, MadVillainy, one of his most successful works to date. Earlier in that same year however, it was DOOMs Viktor Vaughn alter ego that was hailed by fans with the Vaudeville Villain album. Vaughn is DOOMs nostalgic, teenage-minded incarnation. DOOM told AllHipHop.com, When Im in Vic mode, Im thinking from the perspective of a 19 year-old cat. With at least two other albums due, with VV2: Venomous VillainDOOM snuck out a sequel to his villainous self. Madvillainy was a slight departure from the DOOM listeners were used to. It contained the same stream-of-consciousness themed content, but DOOMs delivery was altered to match Madlibs unique up-tempo production. This album is a return to DOOMs precise, and classical, B-Boy timing with even darker themes. Doper Skiller teams DOOM with Kool Keith (a.k.a. Dr. Dooom) to share the tasks of demonstrating why most MCs cant be original. As expected when two of Hip-Hops most creative minds unite, the track shines off the album. But dont expect too much weirdness or avant-garde stuff; the track is very conventional Hip-Hop. DOOM uses this persona to tell stories very consistently. Sometimes these tales seem to lack plot, but in his own masterful way, DOOM describes a setting to the most mundane detail. Bloody Chain is a moment where DOOM recounts a sexual rendezvous with more attention to detail than usual (with Poison Pen tagging on an alternate view of the same tale). Viktor Vaughn maintains his dark, eerie, 50s radio drama theme, and there clearly is a definite connection from this, to the first installment. The production of this album is completely unlike anything DOOMs ever worked with. Like Public Enemys Revolverlution, the beats were submitted via a contest. Budding producers Diplo and Swamburger provided some beats, as Kutmasta Kurt drops some scratches. IZ-Real, a former artist signed to B-Boy Records (BDP) is the coordinator of this project. Still, the sound defies all weve known. There is a classic Hip-Hop presence, undoubtedly. The DJ and scratch element of this record is extremely high, a welcomed treat, featuring many cut-ins and scratches of classic verses from Nas, Group Home, and others. The beats themselves sound much cleaner than that which DOOM is known for. The percussion is deeply rooted in Hip-Hop convention. The frequently used synthesizers are not. R.A.P.G.A.M.E. is an absolutely fabulous, with a great, crisp piano loop and basic percussion. Just as MadVillainy appealed to a new crowd, perhaps this will reel in some electronic fans to DOOMs mastery. The Viktor Vaughn catalog is proving to be some of DOOMs most conventional work. For some, thats a refresh return to the way its always been. For others, thats boring, and lacks the creative genius of Take Me to Your Leader and the forthcoming, MMMFood. This album lyrically captures the essence of DOOM then, now, and always. Musically, its the fastest, most electronic DOOM album yet. At times, that seems to work. At other times, it just comes across as watered down and rushed. Whatever the case, this will be a revealing treat to many fans, and perhaps a starting point for outsiders.

Hip-Hopulation

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicAugust 4, 2004

Artist: Main FlowTitle: Hip-HopulationRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Kenny Rodriguez Main Flow has been in the rap game for a minute now. Debuting in 1997 alongside DJ Jahson and MC Dante (MOOD), the Cincinnati-bred trio achieved quite an underground buzz with their hypnotic anthem Karma. Backed by a then-unheard of DJ Hi-Tek, their oft-overlooked album DOOM was a cosmic journey characterized by mystic chants, calls for meditation, and boom-bap Hip-Hop at its purest. Seven years later, with a multimedia company under his belt (Wannabattle Enterprises), the Midwest emcee drops his first solo album, Hip-Hopulation a musical testament to the diversity he sees in hip-hop. And diverse it is. Main Flow breaks through on The Wire, reporting live from the gritty streets of the Natty. Over suave guitar strums courtesy of Da Riffs, Flow details the everyday trials and tribulation of inner-city living — showing that even the law-abiding arent safe: You got kingpins out there slinging them bricks / You got pimp-type cats steady bringing them tricks / Everybody in-between? Probably hanging to slip / Watch the color that you wearing, cause the banging is sick. Long-time Brooklyn affiliate Talib Kweli reeks havoc on the opera-inspired Hip Hop Worth Dying For, venting off at all pompous backpackers and holier-than-thou Hip-Hoppers alike (Youre not a purist, youre pure s### / You dont preserve the culture, you disturb it). Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Main-Flow and Planet Asia bash would-be rhymers on the charismatic Loving The Game. As if that werent enough, Black Thought and Dante of MOOD accompany Flow on Classic, and the three spit effortlessly over a funky batch of Roots-esque guitar twangs. Then comes the radio-friendly She Likes Me, a petal-picking ballad where a pretty-young-thing professes her love for the prominent MC, leaving Flow and eLone debating whether her affection is for the man, or just for his money (All your girls starting to ask, I thought that you was made? / El said you just like me cause Im doing things / She likes me because I put it down tight / She like me not? That dont even sound right.) The only thing better is the Beyonder-laced remix, which replaces the original romantic tings with a sultry stream of violin strings. As his name suggests, Main-Flows main attraction is clearly his straightforward, almost monosyllabic delivery. Whether drifting over the laidback regal chimes of Street Pay, or jamming with the heavy bops of the J Rawls-produced Delivery Tactics — Main-Flow sounds ill no matter what beat you put him on. But while Flow stays on-point, what ends up bogging down the album is its endless roster of guest MCs. With over a dozen cameos (including Defari, Black Thought, Killah Priest, 7L & Esoteric, Mikah 9, and a whole slew of others), Hip-Hopulation ends up sounding like an overcrowded compilation rather than the solo LP it claims to be. As such, there are the inevitable slip-ups (the whiney Never Imagine being one of them). Fortunately the blunders are kept to a minimum, but with only 2 tracks to himself, Flow haphazardly limits himself to being merely a collaborative MC rather than shining as a true solo artist. Overlooking a few stumbles here-and-there, Hip-Hopulation is a solid release from a solid MC. Already considered a vet by many, Main Flow does his best to make sure Hip-Hop fans learn his name, and that those who already know it dont forget it.

Woman Banned From Owning TVs And Radios Over Eminem

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 4, 2004

A woman in the UK has been banned from owning a TV, stereo or radio for two years, after she repeatedly played music by Eminem so loud that it made her neighbors furniture vibrate across the floor. The Birmingham City Council made Sharon McLoughlin, 33, the first person in the city barred from owning any of the devices. Mcloughlin, a mother of three, played “Stan” and other songs at deafening levels, much to the chagrin of her neighbors. The issue was so serious that environmental health staff measured the noise from a resident’s flat above McLoughlin’s and found that the levels were about 65dB (decibels) – the legal level a passing airplane is allowed to make. The music was so loud that officers in a neighboring flat couldn’t hold conversations with each other, despite being less than 6 feet apart. “My settee [sofa] moves across the living room, my son’s cot moves across the floor and the constant music has me permanently on edge,” a neighbor told officials. “My GP prescribed me antidepressant tablets to cope.” McLoughlin’s flat was raided several times and each time, authorities seized thousands of dollars worth of stereo equipment, televisions and CD’s. McLoughlin simply went out and bought more gear. In addition to the ban, she has been evicted from her flat. The issue was taken serious because of the health problems associated with noise pollution. In addition to hearing loss, studies have shown that heart disease and high blood pressure often occur in cases of long term exposure to noise levels above 65dB(decibels).

Bid On Time With X-Clan’s Prof. X

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsAugust 4, 2004

While most fans seek to meet their favorite rapper, whether it’s a legend or neophyte, that chance rarely comes. Professor X, founder of conscious Hip-Hop group X-Clan, has utilized eBay to auction off a night in New York City for the fan that bids the highest. On the site, Prof X explains, “[We will] go to all the hottest spots and record shops in NYC too. Make it happen for a once in a lifetime opportunity.” In the 80’s and 90’s, Prof X (real name Lumumba Carson) was renown for his catch phrases “Vanglorious” and referring to wack individuals as “sissies.” In addition, he is the son of the late Civil Rights pioneer Sonny Carson, who produced "The Education of Sonny Carson.". At press time, the bidding for X’s time had risen from starting bids of $8 to $52 in a span of hours with seven people battling for the X-Clan founder’s time. The bidding ends on August 9. Should the bidding reach $500 of over, Professor X will pay for the winners bus ticket and he will also help make the housing arrangements with the individual. The cost of such accommodations is to be paid for by the bidder. X-Clan released a pair of lauded albums, 1990’s To the East, Blackwards, and 1992’s Xodus, but soon after the Brooklyn-based collective disbanded. While active they were party to a number of grassroots organizations, most notably BlackWatch. The group reportedly regrouped in the late 90’s but never released any material. To place a bid to chill with X-Clan’s Professor X, click here.